HOMILY 1

Today we commemorate the entry of Jesus into His own City which is the city of David. Jesus is honored as a King following the line of David. He is the Messiah who fulfills the prophecies of the Old Testament especially the 4 Servant Songs of the Prophet Isaiah. All four Gospels speak about the triumphal entry into Jerusalem but it is only St. John’s Gospel which speaks of the people waving palm branches. The synoptic Gospels speak only of leafy “branches” that were used to welcome Jesus. It is just amazing the John retained and emphasized palm branches in which our liturgy has also adopted the Palm Sunday.” We gather 4 reflections from the meaning of palms we wave in our hands and the meaning of the palms that are blessed in the liturgy.

1. Image of Victory- in the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucids in 167 BC, the Israelites used palms as a sign of victory. We learn that Judas Maccabeus was a priest who became a warrior after the Temple of Jerusalem was desecrated. The Seleucids turned the Temple of Jerusalem into one of places for the Olympics and home for the swine which led to the revolt. In the history of the colonization of Israel, there were around 5 colonizers that God intervened and revealed his love, power, authority, and salvation for Israel. In the 8th Century, the Assyrians subdued Israel; in the 6th century, the Babylonians and the Persians; in the 2th Century, the Greeks and in the 1st century, the Romans. It was only during the time of the Seleucids that the Israelites revolted under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, called “the hammer” that they won a victorious war. The Temple was rededicated, cleansed, and reopened. Palm branches were waved as a sign of victory and triumph over the enemies of faith.

2. Image of a journey- the palms that were present during the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was an image of the final journey of Jesus in Jerusalem. Palm Sunday is the doorway of the Holy Week which will commence our celebration of the last days of Jesus in the world. As Jesus journeys towards His last days, He will instill in us that we all will face the last days of our life. Like Jesus who will cry: “Eloi, Eloi Lema Sabachtani” which translates “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Jesus will experience the pains of being abandoned and left behind, but the Father will never leave the Son. He will be present even at the last moment of Son’s life on earth which will foreshadow that God will never abandon us until the last moment of our life. One thing is sure in the journey of Jesus in the world- His closeness to His Father.

3. Image of redemptive suffering- the palms on Palm Sunday symbolize the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where He will undergo the path towards suffering that does not stay on Jesus alone but it will be a suffering that is redemptive. Benedict XVI commented: “Our procession today is meant, then, to be an image of something deeper, to reflect the fact that, together with Jesus, we are setting out on pilgrimage along the high road that leads to the living God.” This redemptive suffering was experienced by Christ which was for the benefit of all mankind. Pope Francis mentioned about the three forms of suffering. First, suffering of the body: “let us think of the slaps and beatings, the flogging and the crowning with thorns, and in the end, the cruelty of the crucifixion;” second, suffering of the spirit: “At his most tragic hour, Jesus experiences abandonment by God. Prior to that moment, he had never called the Father by his generic name, “God;” third, suffering of the soul: “the betrayal of Judas, the denials of Peter, the condemnation of the religious and civil authorities, the mockery of the guards, the jeering at the foot of the cross, the rejection of the crowd, utter failure and the flight of the disciples.”

4. Image of welcome- The palm branches symbolize the welcome the people gave to Jesus. He enters into the city of David as a humble king. With palm branches, the people not only welcome the King but they also welcome humility as the path towards holiness. Pope John Paul II said: “The animal chosen indicates that it was not a triumphal entry, but that of a king meek and humble of heart. However, the multitudes gathered in Jerusalem, almost unaware of this expression of humility or perhaps recognizing in it a messianic sign, greet Christ with words full with joy: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:9). As Jesus enters into Jerusalem, he fulfills the Father’s desire and He shows His fidelity towards the Father’s will. Thus, these palms symbolize the welcoming of the virtue of fidelity as the way towards the Father.

HOMILY 2

The liturgical celebration of Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. The word “Lent” means “springtime.” It is the season when twigs of trees and branches begin to sprout leaves which indicate new life after the seasons of autumn when leaves began to fall and the season of winter when the leaves are lost due to the cold weather. At the start of the new season, the value of ashes become significant to recall the autumn and winter seasons when leaves dead. Lent is a moment to reflect about the transition from ashes to life and from life back to ashes. At the start of the season, we reflect on the ashes which are imposed on us in the liturgy. There are human values and experiences that lead us toward the meaningfulness of the season to our spiritual development.

1. Human Fragility- Ashes symbolize the temporariness of human life. At the final point of earthly life, the human person meets death which is beyond his control. He knows how fragile human life is and Lent reminds him of his vulnerability and imperfection. Strength is not found from without. This is the reason for the Prophet Joel to call for “a return to the heart.” Human fragility is rectified by the strength of the heart which is from within. Pope Francis said: “Lent, then, immerses us in a bath of purification and of self-spoliation: it helps us to remove all the cosmetics that we use in order to appear presentable, better than we really are. To return to the heart means to go back to our true self and to present it just as it is, naked and defenseless, in the sight of God. It means looking within ourselves and acknowledging our real identity, removing the masks we so often wear, slowing the frantic pace of our lives and embracing life and the truth of who we are.”

2. Entering into the secret- Jesus spoke about almsgiving, fasting, and prayer as important acts to fulfill the requirements of Holy Lent. Almsgiving, fasting, and prayer can only be rewarded by the Father who stays in secret when they are all done in secret. The word “secret” has been repeatedly mentioned in the Gospel to emphasize a deeper spirituality with God who works deeply into our inner selves. Looking deeply into ourselves, we discover our fears, our vulnerabilities, our insecurities, our sins, our shortcomings, our limitations and our imperfections. Thus, the Season of Lent is allowing the things which we do not want to see, to be seen by God as we open our hearts to him. Pope Francis continued saying: “Let us listen then, throughout this Lent, to the voice of the Lord who does not tire of repeating: go to your room, return to your heart. It is a salutary invitation for us, who so often live on the surface of things, who are so concerned to be noticed, who constantly need to be admired and appreciated. Without realizing it, we find ourselves no longer having an “inner chamber” in which we can stop and care for ourselves, immersed as we are in a world in which everything, including our emotions and deepest feelings, has to become “social” – but how can something be “social” that does not come from the heart? Even the most tragic and painful experiences risk not having a quiet place where they can be kept. Everything has to be exposed, shown off, fed to the gossip-mill of the moment. But the Lord says to us: Enter into the secret, return to the centre of yourself.”

3. The Acceptable Time- The Season of Lent is considered by the readings today as the most acceptable time to contemplate on the face of Jesus. It is the moment that the Cross has now been given meaning through a face that was linked to it. Jesus sanctified the Cross and made it a symbol of eternal life. Benedict XVI commented: “See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Cor 6:2). These words of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Corinth also echo in our hearts with an urgency which leaves no room for absence or inertia. The frequent repetition of the word “now” tells us that we cannot let this moment pass: it is given to us as a unique and unrepeatable opportunity. The Apostle fixes his gaze on the “sharing” which Christ wanted to characterize his life, by taking upon himself all that is human, even our sin. Saint Paul’s words are forceful: God “made him to be sin” for our sake.”